Chapter 1
After three days of being toyed with by the Schuler boys, Rosa showed up at the Schuler estate, covered in bruises both inside a
and out
Standing in the grand living room, she took a shaky breath. Grandpa Schuler, Grandma Schuler, I’ve made my decision. I want to be engaged to Phil”
Grandma Schuler’s eyes went wide with surprise. “Rosa, did you make a mistake? Phil is their uncle!“?
Rosa’s heart thudded in her chest. She clutched the hem of her dress, forcing out a small, nervous smile. “I know it’s unexpected, Grandma Schuler. But I just have to mamy someone from the Schuler family. I don’t have to choose from Lev, Austin, or Alden, does it?“!
She looked up, hope flickering in her eyes. “None of them want this, and honestly, neither do L. Please, Grandma Schuler, could you ask Phil for me? Just once. I’m begging you.”
Grandma Schuler saw the desperation in Rosa’s eyes and let out a heavy sigh. She shared a glance with Grandpa Schuler, then patted Rosa’s hand. “Phil’s away on business right now, but I’ll call him. Don’t worry, dear.
Resa’s
is nerves were frayed as she listened to the phone ringing. Her whole world seemed to teeter on the edge.
“Mother?” Phil’s voice came through the speaker, steady and distant
could barely breathe.
Grandma Schuler explained everything. There was a long pause on the other end. Each second felt like forever. Rosa c Finally, Grandma Schuler’s face melted into a gentle smile. She nodded. “Phil said yes. Well set the date soon so you two can get married as soon as possible.” The news hit Ross like a wave: For a moment, she couldn’t move. Then relief flooded her, bringing tears she quickly blinked away. She nodded, almost dizzy with gratitude
Even on the walk home, her heart was still pounding. It felt like a heavy stone had finally rolled off her chest, and she could breathe again.
After a few deep breaths, she took out her phone and called her parents. “Dad, Mom, I’m going to many Phil now.”
There was a pause. Then Joseph and Katherine’s voices came through, cool and businesslike. “That’s fine. Phil’s got status and influence–more than the three brothers. Tell us the wedding date; well fly back for it?
The call ended with a couple of cold beeps, leaving Rosa alone in her empty apartment. She was used to this. Her parents had never really cared–business always came first and they were almost never home!
stone long before Rosa was even bom. As the only daughter of the
The Swanson and Schuler families were two of the most powerful in the city, their alliance set in ston Swanson family, she’d never had a say in it
She’d grown up with Lev, Austin, and Aiden. Her parents always telling her that one day, shed marry one of them. She tried so hard to win them over, even risking her life to save them during that massive earthquake five years ago. She’d nearly died for them)
But they never warmed up to her Their hearts belonged to someone else–Abigail, the housekeeper’s daughter
None of them wanted to marry Rosa. They hated the engagement, hated being lied to her
The cruelest part? They claimed to love Abigail because she saved them during the earthquake.
But it was Rosa who had saved them. She was the one who’d dragged them out of the rubble
Now, as her twenty–fourth birthday loomed and the engagement deadline approached shed tried more than once to tell them the truth. They never believed her. If anything Abigail just tumed them further against her
Just when Rosa was about to give up completely, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Lev
